Container volume soars at Port of New York and New Jersey in April

Port of New York and New Jersey (Photo: Port of New York and New Jersey)

The busiest container port on the U.S. East Coast saw container volumes surge in April.

The Port of New York and New Jersey handled 751,194 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in April as shippers continued to ramp up imports ahead of tariffs on Chinese goods.

This total is up 24% from April 2019 (pre-pandemic) and up 6% from April 2024, according to data from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Over the first four months of the year, the port handled 2,954,913 TEUs. This represents a 23% increase compared to the same period in 2019 and a 9% increase compared to the first four months of 2024.

Container freight rates, according to data from SONAR, also moved in line with the increase in volumes in April. Specifically, container freight rates from Yantian (China) to New York-New Jersey had a strong recovery in a "V+" pattern after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on April 27 that "there is a roadmap" to reach a tariff agreement with China. Freight rates increased from $3,826 on April 28 to $4,348 on May 1.

See more:

• Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd Launch New Service from China to the US
• IATA: Airline industry profits expected to grow slightly in 2025
• Container shipping profits and margins plunge in Q1
• International Shipping and Logistics Market Update - Week 22/2025 | Phaata
• Shippers hold their breath as President Trump appeals court ruling on tariff illegality
• IATA: Air cargo demand continues to grow in April
• Federal court blocks Trump tariffs
• Container port congestion spreads from Europe to the US and China
• Panama tightens rules on 'dark fleets'
• International Shipping and Logistics Market Update - Week 21/2025 | Phaata
• PIL officially starts construction of first 13,000 TEU dual-fuel LNG container ship
• Freight industry layoffs spread across California and Texas
• Asia-US container rates rise, carriers restore capacity amid tariff delay
• 3rd VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS EXHIBITION (VILOG 2025) “Digital Transformation - Green Development of Logistics Industry”

Source: Phaata.com (According to Freight Waves)

► Find Better Freight Rates & Logistics Service Providers!